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Choose from 646 Fun Things to Do in Australia

Hyde Park Barracks Museum

The foundations of Sydney were built on convict labor, and the Hyde Park Barracks are where criminals who were sentenced to live out the rest of their days in Australia were housed. Opened to hold male convicts working on the government projects and later to house orphan girls escaping the Irish famine, it was after that also used as a female immigration depot, an asylum for impoverished women and a courthouse. All through history, it was the place where people in Australia certainly did not want to end up. Now, as a museum, the barracks tell the stories of those unlucky enough to pass through its doors.

The building itself was also built with convict labor, after it was decided that housing the criminals in one place would improve productivity as well as their moral character. The structure looks nothing short of imposing with its massive shingled roof standing above a simple, durable façade of sandstock brick. It impressed Governor Macquarie so much that the convict who had been assigned to design it, architect Francis Greenway, got a full pardon out of it. But while he earned his freedom, many others weren't so lucky. A guardsman once described the barracks housing up to 1,400 men as “a perfect accumulation of vice and infamy."

When restoration on the building began in 1975, archaeologists were able to pull thousands of personal items out of cracks and from beneath floorboards. This collection, together with displays and stories, now make up the museum and teach about the living conditions of the men and women who once lived here.

Practical Info

Located at the southern end of Macquarie Street, the barracks are only a five-minute walk away from the St James train station and the Elizabeth Street bus station. The Hyde Park Barracks Museum opens daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is only closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Queens Square, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Adults $12 AUD, Children (Age 5 - 15) $8 AUD (under 5 years free), Family $30 AUD, Members Free

From $ 44

Kakadu National Park

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park is a massive Northern Territory nature reserve, clocking in at 4.2 million acres (1.7 million hectares). With sandstone escarpments, secret waterholes, billabongs, and lily-strewn waterways, Kakadu is an introduction to wild Australia. Read on to learn what to see and do in the country’s largest national park.

The Basics

On Kakadu National Park tours and Top End adventures, you’ll find opportunities to encounter exotic animals such as dingoes, wallabies, dugongs, and saltwater crocodiles, and also discover Aboriginal culture, from ancient aboriginal rock art at Ubirr and Nourlangie to the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Cooinda, where visitors pore over traditional bush food and didgeridoos. Ubirr is uniquely beautiful, located at the foot of a food plain, with prominent rock formations standing as guardians of the Arnhem Land. If visiting without a tour guide, be sure to stop into the Bowali Visitor Centre to plan your trip with the center’s staff; this rugged outback environment can be hazardous for the unprepared.

Ways to Visit Kakadu National Park

You can take in Kakadu on a guided tour from Darwin, or, if you have your own car, visit the park independently from much farther areas such as Kimberley and Broome in Western Australia. Most day tours depart from Darwin, about 93 miles (150 km) away, and last upwards of 12 hours, including round-trip transportation by a WiFi-equipped coach. Kakadu National Park can be reached in about 1.5 hours from Darwin by road, and travelers can choose from a variety of options, including small-group tours, private tours, and adventure tours. For a longer excursion, multi-day options offer accommodations or camping experiences that can be combined with a visit to Litchfield National Park, Nitmiluk National Park, or Katherine Gorge, other must-see spots in the Top End.

Top Sights to Experience Kakadu’s Natural Beauty

Cruising along the Mary River wetlands or the East Alligator River (Guluyambi) will allow you to spot native birds and possibly catch a glimpse of a crocodile from a safe distance. Travelers also enjoy cruising Yellow Water Billabong near Cooinda and bush camping in Koolpln Gorge, although it’s recommended that this adventure is taken with a guide unless you’re an experienced outback camper, as permits are required and the terrain is rough. The park’s most prominent water features are Jim Jim Falls and the nearby Twin Falls, but they flow mostly in the quiet wet season. The best way to see these falls is on a scenic flight, which allows for spectacular aerial photo ops.

Best Times to Visit

Most visitors plan their trips for the late July dry season, when most of the park is accessible and animals gather in large numbers around shrinking waterholes. In the wet season from October to March, bodies of water swell and it becomes difficult to move around the park, making plane rides a popular wet season activity.

Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

$25

From $ 193

Hillarys Boat Harbour

Hillarys Boat Harbour is one of Perth’s most popular seaside playgrounds. Everyone here, from shoppers to whale watchers, can find an activity along the boardwalk that teems with hundreds of visitors. Enjoy the smell of salt on the breeze while cycling along the coast, or relax with a coffee at an outdoor café that looks out over the water. In spring, book a ticket on a whale-watching cruise to watch playful, aerial humpbacks, and birdwatchers can board the ferry to Rottnest Island during any time of the year.

Even if you don’t actually get on a boat, simply strolling the marina docks is a popular Hillary’s pastime. This harbor, after all, was built as part of the America’s Cup in 1988, and world-class yachts and finely polished sailboats still make the marina their home. On sunny days, leave some footprints in the Australian sand on the popular and sheltered beach, and there’s also a playground where families with children can relax along the coast.

Practical Info

Hillary’s Boart Harbor is located 15 miles north of Perth in the coastal town of Hillary’s. The Marina is set on Southside Drive, and with 2,700 parking stalls, there is rarely a problem finding a place to park. Or, to reach the marina by train and bus, take the Joondaloop Line from downtown Perth and exit at the Warwick or Sterling stations. From here, bus 423 will take you directly to the harbor. For whale watching, the best season is from September-early December.

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

From $ 15

Katoomba

Katoomba is one of the most visited towns in the Blue Mountains. Home to Echo Point, where visitors can see the Three Sisters rock formation and Scenic World, Katoomba offers ample attractions and activities to delight all kinds of travelers. While it maintains a small-town feel, it’s home to a large selection of accommodations, dining options, and shopping in the center of town.

Basics

Katoomba is most famous for its proximity to the Three Sisters Rock formation, which can be accessed from Echo Point in the Blue Mountains National Park. Many visitors also come for Scenic World, an eco-amusement park with railways, cable cars, and treetop walks. But the historic town has a thriving cultural and dining scene as well with a long list of annual events and festivals, plus unusual landmarks like the Explorers Marked Tree, which has been carved with the initials of explorers dating back to 1813

Things to Know Before You Go

Katoomba is easily reached by train from Sydney.
You’ll find a range of accommodation and ample dining options in Katoomba.
Katoomba’s Edge Cinema has one of the largest movie screens in the southern Hemisphere.
The Blue Mountains is occasionally affected by bushfires in the summer months.

How to Get There

Katoomba is located in the Blue Mountains about 60 miles (100 kilometers) west of central Sydney. The village can be reached by car in about 90 minutes or by a 2-hour train ride on the Blue Mountains Line from Sydney’s Central Station.

When to Get There

Local festivals happen throughout the year in Katoomba. The Blue Mountains region is sometimes affected by bushfires in the summer and can be wet in winter months.

Wentworth Falls

Wentworth Falls, just a short drive or train journey from Katoomba, is a charming town located in the Blue Mountains Heritage Site. Known for its eponymous waterfalls, the town has a number of walking and hiking trails, picnic and BBQ areas, preserved Aboriginal sites, and a charming downtown with historic buildings and gourmet coffee shops.

Katoomba, NSW 2780, Australia

From $ 37

Kelly Hill Conservation Park

The star attraction of Kelly Hill Conservation Park is the extensive network of caves that lie beneath it. With guided tours of the caves, short walks or longer hikes above ground, and views of woodlands and the Southern Ocean, the park is well worth the visit.

Impressive formations of stalactites, stalagmites and more await visitors underground. Discovered when a horse named Kelly fell into one of the caves, the complex is one of the few dry limestone cave networks in Australia. The Kelly Hill Visitor Centre runs frequent guided tours of the caves, or, for the more adventurous, adventure caving. In addition, souvenirs, drinks and snacks are also available from the visitors centre.

As well as the underground attractions, Kelly Hill Conservation Park is home to several short walks around the Visitors Centre. Visitors after a longer trek can undertake the Hanson Bay hike – an 18km return track past lagoons, woodlands and sand dunes.

Practical Info:

Kelly Hill sits on the southwest of Kangaroo Island, close to Flinders Chase National Park and the Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. The park is open 24/7 year round, though day visitors are asked to leave the park by sunset. The Visitors Centre is open 10:15-4:30 daily. Guided cave tours are $15 for adults and $9 for children with multiple tours per day, whilst adventure cave tours are $50 for adults and $30 for children over 8, and run at 2:15pm.

Kelly Hill Conservation Park, Karatta, SA 5223, Australia

Day visitors are requested to leave the park by sunset. Kelly Hill Caves Visitor Centre: 10:15am - 4:30pm Daily (except Christmas Day).

Cave Tour Fees: Adult: $15; Child: $9

From $ 332

Japanese Cemetery

The largest cemetery in Australia, Broome’s Japanese Cemetery was established at the beginning of Broome’s pearling industry.

In the early days of the pearling industry at Broome, many Japanese men worked as divers. Most of the headstones in the cemetery pay tribute to the hundreds of individual divers who died whilst pearling – either from drowning or from the bends (decompression sickness). There are also monuments to catastrophic events, such as a large stone obelisk for those who drowned at sea during a cyclone in 1908. Such cyclones were relatively common in the area, and cyclones in 1887 and 1935 claimed the lives of around 250 Japanese divers between them.

There are 919 Japanese are buried in the cemetery. Many of the headstones are simply marked by colored rocks carried from Broome’s beaches. Before the Japanese became divers, the industry survived by kidnapping local Aboriginal people and training them to dive for pearls. Only 50 metres south of the main Japanese Cemetery lies the Aboriginal section of the cemetery. Unlike the Japanese section, the Aboriginal graves are largely unmarked and unattributed.

Practical Info

The Japanese Cemetery can be found on Port Drive, on the way from the Broome town center to Cable Beach. There are no opening hours or entry charges, though the cemetery has been recently restored to commemorate the lives that were lost.

Broom, WA, Australia 6725, Australia

Daily 24/7

From $ 66

Karlu Karlu

Formed by millions of years of erosion and precariously perched in the desert, Karlu Karlu (or “the Devil’s Marbles”) is one of the most famous geologic sites in Australia’s desert interior. Located on the lonely stretch of highway between Alice Springs and Darwin, Karlu Karlu is a sacred stretch of rock strewn Australian landscape. A few of these rounded, eroded “marbles” are upwards of 20 feet wide, and are delicately perched on top of each other in ways that barely seem real. The slightest breath of wind, it seems, would topple the rocks and send them crashing to the dusty red earth below. These rocks, however, have stood in this spot for millions of years, and form parts of sacred creation tales for the area’s original inhabitants. There are no official trails in the park—just informal, well-worn paths—and the desert landscape’s epic silence improves with each step from the road. In the peak of the day, the boulders appear flat, completely lifeless, and really not all that special, though all of that changes in the hour before sunset in the light of the soft desert glow. A primitive campground allows travelers to camp amidst the towering rocks, and catch the afternoon light performance before all the stars come out. And, while it’s easy to photograph the famous marbles without even leaving the parking lot, the best way to experience the park is to walk amidst the landscape—where boulders seem to have gotten stuck after raining down from the sky.

Practical Info

Karlu Karlu is located 65 miles south of Tennant Creek, and 245 miles north of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory’s interior. Due to scorching summertime temperatures that can stretch well over 100 degrees, the site is best visited in the cooler months of May-August. Should you choose to visit in the middle of the day, be sure to pack water and sun protection as there’s definitely a lack of shade.

Northern Territory, Australia, Australia

From $ 222

Infinity

A multimedia experience engaging all of the senses, Infinity is a journey through mazes of special effects that create a dream-like atmosphere. Sound fields, lights, music, and visual illusions challenge the mind and stretch the imagination of those who navigate the funhouse.

There are 20 different environments, each with its own unique interactive experience. Ranging from a laser room to a time warp, electron maze, and inter-dimensional space, visitors are treated to a feast for all the senses throughout. The creator of Infinity has an art background, and the innovative and immersive displays on an “electronic canvas” push the boundaries of artistic expression, eliciting powerful emotional responses. Truly a unique experience, Infinity lives up to its name by altering one’s sense of time, space and what is possible.

Practical Info

Infinity is located within the Chevron Renaissance Centre in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, on the ground floor. It is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm. Admission is $27 for adults and $18 for children.

Surfers Paradise Blvd & Elkhorn Ave, Gold Coast Q 4217, Australia

Adults: $27; Children: $18

From $ 20

Kalbarri National Park

With its multi-hued, sandstone hiking trails and rugged, coastal sea cliffs, Kalbarri National Park is one of Australia’s most awe inspiring corners. From the lookout atop the Z Bend trail, your gaze will fall 500 feet (152 m) to the Murchison River below, which has slowly carved a colorful gorge through millions of years of erosion. Down south along the coast, you’ll find Red Bluff Beach, where dusty red sandstone and turquoise waters add color and flare to the cove. Keep an eye out for echidna, wallabies, and 150 species of birds, as well as the whales, dolphins, and seabirds that soar and splash within eyesight from the park's six miles (9.5 km) of coastal cliff trails.

Given the park's location seven-hours from the major city of Perth, many visitors choose to experience Kalbarri as part of a multi-day, guided tour with transportation included. Tours range from three days to 19 days of exploring the Western Australian coastline with stops for outdoor activities and visits to other natural attractions, like Pinnacles Desert and Monkey Mia.

Practical Info

Kalbarri National Park is located two hours from Geraldton and seven hours from Perth. It is accessible by guided tour and by car with the purchase of a single-day vehicle pass, which costs AUD 12.

There is no drinking water in Kalbarri National Park and no formal facilities. All travelers must pack their own water, food, shelter, and snacks, and back-country hikers must register with rangers before and after a hike. In the summer, temperatures soar above 100 degrees (38 degrees Celsius) and are often up to 15 degrees higher when hiking through the interior.

Did You Know? The Tumblagooda sandstone inside the park is believed to be 400 million years old.

Kalbarri National Park, Geraldton, Australia

Varies

From $ 463

Jezzine Barracks

For over a century, the Jezzine Barracks protected Townsville from the threat of outside attack. Cannons and guns were placed high atop the promontory, facing out toward the blue horizon ready to put up a fight. Today, after a massive, modern redevelopment of the aging historical barracks, Jezzine Barracks is a public park that not only honors its military past, but also retains the cultural heritage of its native Aborginal peoples. Located on the western end of Townsville’s popular beachfront Strand, the Jezzine Barracks offer sweeping views of the Rock Pool and Magnetic Island.

Weave your way up the walking trail in the hours just before sunset, stopping to admire the sculpture garden and historical military tributes. From atop the large, rocky headland, the entirety of Townsville’s happening shoreline sits directly at your feet, and there’s no better place on Townsville’s coast for enjoying a sunrise or sunset. For a deeper look at the military past, visit the Army Museum of North Queensland that’s located right here at the Barracks, where displays range from the early days of Australia’s original defenses, all the way up to modern conflicts and the men who have protected and served.

Practical Info

There is no admission to visit Jezzine Barracks or the Army Museum of North Queensland. The museum is open from 9am-1pm on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, and should you choose to walk to the lookout point, be sure to bring water, sun protection, and snacks, since the walk takes longer than it looks.

Jezzine Barracks, Townsville QLD 4810, Australia

From $ 41

Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park

Located right across the river from Brisbane’s CBD, the popular Kangaroo Points Cliff Park is the place to head for a sweeping view of Brisbane’s downtown skyline. The cliffs here were formed by mining in the middle of the 19th century, and are now a popular spot for rock climbing and abseiling down their face. Since the park is located right on the river, kayaking is another popular activity for visitors as well as locals, and the BBQ grills and walking tracks make it a perfect family outing. To try your hand at scaling the cliffs, a number of climbing and abseiling companies offer guided lessons on the rocks, and the park is also a popular spot for stops on a city tour. And, while it doesn’t take long to swing by the park and enjoy the manicured grounds, it’s a peaceful, fun, and healthy retreat in the middle of Brisbane’s downtown.

Practical Info

While it’s possible to reach the park by car, the best way to visit the Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park is by taking the ferry from downtown. You can either stop at Thornton Street on the northern end of the park, or at the ferry stop for the Maritime Museum where it’s just a short stroll north up the bank.

461 Main St, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia QLD 4169, Australia

From $ 15

Hosier Lane

Appreciate Melbourne’s best street art and graffiti in Hosier Lane, one of the city’s ‘hidden’ laneways.

Once forgotten but now very much on the Melbourne cultural map, Hosier Lane is a small cut through between Flinders Street and Flinders Lane, filled with regularly changing graffiti and a series of light boxes that exhibit the work of up and coming contemporary artists.

Jutting out from the center of Hosier is Rutledge Lane; walk past the (graffitied) garbage bins until you hit the Until Never gallery, which displays work by emerging Australian artists (open Wed-Sat).

Hang out in Misty Bar or enjoy excellent tapas in the compact but excellent Spanish bar, Movida Next Door (Cnr Flinders St & Hosier Ln). If you want to eat at the more spacious and original Movida (1 Hosier Ln), you’ll need to book at least two months in advance.

Australia

From $ 51

Horizontal Falls

Imagine the wind blowing through your hair as you ride on the front of a jetboat, surrounded by rugged, red rock walls that rise from the cobalt waters. All of a sudden, at a break in the rocks, a column of whitewater rages through an opening that’s little wider than your boat, and the once placid ocean has suddenly turned to a white, thunderous waterfall. That’s the scene that visitors might encounter when boating at Horizontal Falls—a natural wonder that’s caused by the shifting of ocean tides through the rocks. Because the tides here are so massive—upwards of 15 feet—the volume of water is simply too much to squeeze through the 12 foot wide opening, and as water stacks up along the walls, awaiting a path through the rocks, a waterfall upwards of 10 feet in height appears right out of the sea. If you don’t want to splash and bounce through the falls, seeing the Horizontal Waterfalls by air is another popular option, where sightseeing flights cruise high above the torrid, tumbling waters, and visitors are treated with birds eye views of nature in all her glory.

Practical Info

There is a minimum age of 4 years old for jet boat rides through the falls, and it isn’t advisable if you are pregnant or have back problems. There is a maximum weight of 270 lbs for all tours that involve a seaplane ride, and since tours are seasonal, be sure to inquire ahead of time for availability of trips.

Did You Know? At the greatest tides, the waterfalls here at Horizontal Falls can reach upwards of 15 feet.

Talbot Bay, Western Australia 6733, Australia

From $ 624

Jenolan Caves

One of Australia’s oldest and most impressive cave systems, Jenolan Caves are a highlight of any visit to the Blue Mountains. The caves serve up some spectacular scenery, with dramatic stalactites and stalagmites, underground rivers, and unusual limestone and crystal formations.

The Basics

The only way to explore the caves is on a guided tour, and there are more than 10 different show caves to discover. Each cave has its own unique selling point—Lucas and Imperial are the largest and most accessible, Chifley Cave is riddled with secret chambers, and the Orient and Temple of Baal caves have stunning rock formations. There’s also River Cave, set around a subterranean river, and the Ribbon Cave, with its unusual crystal formations.

Various combination tickets and tours are available. Day tours of Jenolan Caves from Sydney often include a visit to the Blue Mountains, stopping at regional attractions, such as the Three Sisters rock formation and Jamison Valley, the mountain villages of Leura and Wentworth, or Featherdale Wildlife Park.

Things to Know Before You Go

There is a minimum age of 6 or 10 years for some cave tours, which are graded according to their difficulty level.
Temperatures in the cave average 60°F (16°C) year-round, so bring warm clothing. Sturdy, enclosed shoes and comfortable clothing are also essential.
Most caves are not wheelchair accessible, but visits to Orient Cave can be arranged with prior notice. For those with reduced mobility, Imperial Cave is the most easily accessible.
The Jenolan Caves complex has a number of hotels, restaurants, cafés, and on-site facilities for visitors.

How to Get There

Most travelers opt to visit Jenolan Caves as part of a Blue Mountains tour. There is no public transport to the caves, but trains run from Sydney to Katoomba, from where coach tours operate to the caves. There is plenty of free parking on-site.

When to Get There

The caves are open daily year-round. The busiest time to visit is during the summer months of January and February, when advance booking is essential.

Adventure Activities at Jenolan Caves

Jenolan Caves’ striking topography affords adventurous travelers plenty of opportunities to explore. Visit rarely seen caves on an “off the track” tour; take a thrilling night excursion; or strap on a headlamp and helmet, and squeeze, scramble, and crawl through the “Plughole.” Hikers can also enjoy a number of bushwalks around the caves, with popular choices, including Carlotta Arch Walk, Jenolan River Walk, and McKeown's Valley Track.

Australia

From $ 31

James Craig Tall Ship

To say the James Craig has had a lengthy history would be a bit of an understatement. Its restoration process took 40 years, and before that it spent 40 years washed up on a Tasmanian beach. Despite that 80-year period, however, when the ship was incapacitated, the James Craig still spent 56 years of sailing out on the seas, rounding Cape Horn 23 times and serving her country in World War I when stationed up in New Guinea. Today, after all that hard work restoring the ship and saving it from the sand, she’s the Southern Hemisphere’s only 19th century tall ship that’s fully operational, regularly taking passengers for cruises out on Sydney Harbor and beyond. In total, the ship has 21 different sails and over 140 lines, and for an added fee you can scale the mast and experience swaying nearly 35 feet above the heaving decks. While enjoying a cruise on the James Craig, take in views of Sydney sights as you make your way out to the Heads, and feel the wind rushing through your hair like salty sailors of old.

Practical Info

Sailing excursions on the James Craig regularly take place twice per month, with dockside viewing available at Wharf 7 at Sydney’s Pyrmont Bay. All children must be at least 2 feet tall in order to board, and passengers are expected to be able to climb steps and navigate narrow passageways.

Wharf 7, 58 Pirrama Road, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2009, Australia

Full day sails are from 9:30am-4pm, and half day sails are from 1-6pm.

Children: $60; Adults: $120-170 (depends on cruise length)

From $ 89

Jervis Bay National Park

Though six times the size of Sydney Harbor, Jervis Bay remains relatively undiscovered, despite containing the whitest sand beach in the world (Hyams Beach, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.) The clear turquoise waters located in the park are lauded as some of the purest in the world. Outside of its beautiful beaches, the park has wetlands, forests, and bays rich in Australian wildlife and Aboriginal artifacts. The diverse landscapes offer excellent bird-watching, hiking, snorkeling, and swimming.

Whales and dolphins have been known to make appearances, and fishing is plentiful and popular here. Greenfield Beach is a favorite area, with facilities for visitors. The main town of Huskisson is a launching off point for the many aquatic activities available in the Jervis Bay Marine Park. The protected area lies on 4,854 hectares in total, so there’s plenty to explore.

Practical Info

The national park is situated on the western and northern shores of Jervis Bay in southern New South Wales, about three hours driving time from Sydney. It is bordered by Booderee National Park and St. George’s Basin.

Jervis Bay Territory, ACT, Australia 2540, Australia

Daily 24/7

From $ 26

Karijini National Park

With its startling multi-hued cliffs, meandering rivers and tumbling waterfalls, the Karijini National Park is a worthy reward for travelers heading off-the-beaten-track in Western Australia. Sprawling for more than 600,000 hectares across the Hamersley Range, Karijini is best known for its dramatic gorges, which provide a natural playground for rafting, climbing and abseiling, and ample swimming spots.

Natural highlights of the park include the Fortescue Falls at Dales Gorge; the Oxer Lookout overlooking Joffre, Weano, Red and Hancock gorges; and the 1,234-meter peak of Mount Bruce. As well as hiking and 4WD tours, Karijini National Park is renowned for its wildlife, including red kangaroos, euros, rock wallabies, echidnas and a colorful variety of birds.

Practical Info

Karijini National Park is located in the Hamersley Ranges in northwestern Western Australian.

Banjima Drive, Karijini WA 6751, Australia

Karijini Visitor Centre is open daily 10am-4pm

From $ 686

Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park

Experience the natural beauty of the South Australian hinterland at Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. Once a sacred meeting place of the native Adnyamathanha people, today these mountains serve as a gathering place for hikers, photographers, campers, and art-history buffs. Home to Aboriginal rock carvings, winding trails, and gorgeous views, the park offers a memorable experience in the stunning Australian bush. Take the walking path from Sacred Canyon to visit the rock carvings in just 15 minutes (30 minutes round trip), or opt for a one-hour hike from Arkaroo Rock to see some of the park's best carvings. For sweeping views and a hike through a gum tree and acacia tree forest, make the trek up to Wangara Lookout, where you'll get picturesque views over Wilpena Pound—a massive, natural rock amphitheater that reaches toward the sky.

Located six hours north of South Australia's popular coastal capital Adelaide, the park is best experienced over the course of a couple of days. Indulge in the natural beauty of the Australian outback with a two-night stay at Wilpena Pound Resort inside the national park and a scenic flightseeing tour of the crater.

Insider's Tip: The hour before sunset is the best time for spotting kangaroos in the grasslands.

Practical Info

Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park is located six hours north of Adelaide and 1.5 hours north of Hawker. It's best accessed by car. While the road to Wilpena Pound is paved, many other roads in the park are graded dirt and gravel. Most are accessible to two-wheel drive vehicles, except in times of inclement weather when 4WD drive is required. Avoid the stress of driving by visiting the park on an organized tour with transportation included.

Temperatures in winter, from April to October, are the most pleasant for activities, since the heat in summer can often stretch upwards of 100°F (37.7°C).

Admission costs AUD 10 per vehicle, and tickets to Old Wilpena Station are AUD 7 for adults and AUD 5 for children.

Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, Blinman, Australia

AUD 10/vehicle

From $ 33

James Cook Museum

Those wanting to learn the legacy of Cooktown’s namesake will find everything they need and more at the James Cook Museum, devoted to preserving the town’s rich history and heritage. Housed in the painstakingly restored 19th-century Sisters of Mercy convent building, the museum tells the story of how Cook and his 86-strong crew spent 48 days marooned on the Northern Queensland shore in 1770, as they repaired their ship, the HMS Endeavour.

Exhibitions detail the fateful events of Cook’s stay, including the repairing of the Endeavour, the early encounters between the British explorers and Australian Aboriginals, and the first sightings of native Australian animals like kangaroos and dingos. Additional galleries cover Cooktown’s history, from the heritage of the indigenous Guugu Yimithiir people to the 19th century Palmer River gold rush, and the role of Chinese immigrants. Highlights include the Endeavour’s original anchor and cannon, and a series of personal stories and artifacts from local families, as well as a terrace café and gift shop.

Practical Info

The James Cook Museum is located on Helen Street in Cooktown, North Queensland and is open daily April to Oct from 9am-4pm; Nov to Jan and March from 9.30am to 4pm; and Feb from 10am-1pm. Admission is AU$10 for adults, AU$3 for children.

50 Helen St, Cooktown QLD 4895, Australia

April-Oct: 9am-4pm; Nov-Jan, March: 9.30am-4pm; Feb: 10am-1pm

Adults: AU$10; Children: AU$3

From $ 219

Jacob's Creek

In 1847, after nearly a decade of living in the hills of the Barossa Valley, Bavarian-native Johann Gramp and his wife decided to literally put down roots in the Australian countryside and planted nearly 30 hectares of grapevines. While the couple almost immediately began producing wine, it wasn’t until 1976 that the name Jacob’s Creek” was introduced to the public. Gramp’s first Shiraz-Cab blend was a hit among wine lovers.

Today, some 150 years later, this vineyard’s commitment to family traditions and its drive for innovation holding strong. Today, travelers can visit this famous vineyard and tour the age-old grounds of Jacob’s Creek, as well as sample wines and learn about production and farming at the innovative, modern and environmentally sound new Visitor Centre.

Practical Info

Jacob’s Creek is located 80 kilometers north of Adelaide, South Australia.

2129 Barossa Valley Way, Rowland Flat, South Australia, Australia

10am–5pm daily, except Christmas and Good Friday

From $ 106